About the Book
The first comprehensive analysis of the use of violence by militant groups across time and space
How do militants rationalize violence and what are their motives? How do time and space shape their destiny? In Violence and Militants Baris Cayli explores these enduring questions by comparing violent episodes in towns and villages in the nineteenth-century Ottoman Balkans with today's zones of conflict from Afghanistan to the Middle East.
Placing history alongside the troubles of the present, Violence and Militants reveals parallels between Christian militants who rebelled against the Ottoman Empire and four jihadist organizations of today: Hezbollah, Hamas, al-Qaeda, and Isis. Drawing on scholarship by political theorists, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers, Cayli traces the root of dissent to a perceived deprivation that leads to aggressive protest and action. He argues that the rationalization of violence functions independently of time and geographical location. Through a riveting narrative, this book uncovers how militant groups use revenge, ideals, and confrontation to generate fear and terror in the name of justice.
Breaking new ground, Violence and Militants is the first book to address this complex relationship across different periods of history.
Praise
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Upcoming Events
- Thu, Apr 23Virtual Book Talk - Violence and MilitantsBaris Cayli Messina presents his book, Violence and Militants, and answers questions in this virtual book talk.
- Wed, Feb 12River Room, King's College LondonThe Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, King's College London is hosting me in the River Room, the second floor on the Strand Campus for my book launch.
- Mon, Oct 28British AcademyThe official launch of Violence and Militants
In the Press
"Cayli's analysis is careful and rigorous, and his command of secondary literature is impressive, resulting in a broadly multidisciplinary study."
""Baris Cayli brings together, in an efficient and thoughtful manner, politics, sociology, anthropology, history, and philosophy to describe and explain violence in different time periods.The book is essential not only to political philosophy but also to scholars of terrorism, violence, or militant or nationalist organizations."
"Cayli clearly and methodically explains the differences between the greater use of the combined force of structural and cultural violence. This thought-provoking and comprehensive discussion will likely prove influential in foreign policy and both domestic and international security concerns for decades to come."
"An in-depth look at a complicated topic, Violence and Militants examines the history of destabilizing groups in the Middle East from revolts against the Ottoman Empire to ISIS. Anyone seeking to better understand the state of affairs in the Middle East would be well-advised to read this."